13/10/2013 19:00VakifBank add World Championship crown to their resumeNews from the FIVB

Zurich, Switzerland, October 13, 2013. Turkey’s VakifBank ISTANBUL prolonged their winning streak to 52 matches and after winning the 2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League last March, the group around Italian-born head coach Giovanni Guidetti won also the 2013 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship that drew to a close on Sunday in Zurich. VakifBank downed Brazil’s Unilever Volei in the final match (25-23, 27-25, and 25-16) to turn into the second club from Turkey to seize the title after Fenerbahce had done so in 2010. VakifBank improved on the silver medal they had won two years ago while Unilever Volei had to be content with second place. China’s Guangdong Evergrande completed the podium after edging hosts Volero ZÜRICH 3:1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-18, and 25-21) in the bronze medal match. VakifBank and Unilever had already crossed their ways in the prelims and the side from Turkey had claimed that first match up 3:1. On Sunday, with the gold medal at stake, the first couple of sets were very close but VakifBank showed great quality and composure in the deciding moments to claim a 2:0 lead and build on this to comfortably dominate the third and final set of the game. Their Serbian superstar Jovana Brakocevic top scored in the end with 23 points including 3 blocks and 1 ace while team captain Gözde Sonsirma Kirdar registered 14. Ana Carolina Da Silva and Gabriela Guimaraes were Unilever’s sole players to finish in double digits with 12 and 10 points respectively. Unilever out-blocked VakifBank 11 to 7 as the world champions totaled 3 aces while the South Americans had no service winners at all.
VakifBank coach Giovanni Guidetti said: “It was an incredible Volleyball match. Both teams played on the highest level, showing the 2,000 fans an outstanding duel. We played extremely well in block-defense. I am proud of my players. Once again, they showed their passion and fighting spirit. It is an amazing feeling.”
Unilever Volei captain Fofão: “VakifBank is an extremely well-organized team. We played two good first sets. We had a big opportunity in the first set, but couldn’t grasp on it even with better blocks. We played at the same level as our opponents. Nevertheless, our errors made the difference today.”

China’s Guangdong Evergrande clinched the bronze medal after slipping past hosts Volero ZÜRICH 3:1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-18, and 25-21). One set down, the team coached by Lang Ping fought their way back to win Asia’s first medal in the competition. Zhu Ting top scored for the winning side with 24 points while Cuban Kenia Carcaces registered 23 for Volero. The hosts out-blocked their Chinese opponents 1o to 4 while Guangdong had a slight edged in serving (7 aces to 5). With this result Guangdong got their revenge after they had lost 1:3 to Volero in pool play this past Thursday.
Guangdong Evergrande captain Ruoqi Hui: “It was a tough game today against Volero. Our comeback in the second set was very important for the rest of the game. We displayed a strong fighting spirit. Our defensive play was well-organized and I personally played better this time.”
Guangdong Evergrande coach Lang Ping: “We are happy with the bronze medal. I think our players know each other better now and we start to improve our level. An important difference between the first match against Volero and the one today was that we knew our opponent better.”
Volero captain Nneka Onyejekwe: “We experienced many ups and downs today. We started well but could not control Ting Zhu and their fast middles. I don’t know why we could not pull through.”
Volero mentor Jan de Brandt concluded: “It’s a pity. We made a very impressive comeback in the first set but lost focus in the crucial moments of the match. We are not used to play constantly at such a high level. Guangdong saved more balls in defense what helped them to set up a strong transition game. We won the duel against them in the preliminary phase; today they were better.”
Final standing